Those Darlins

The trio of college friends from Murfreesboro, Tennessee first cemented Those Darlins on the porch-sitting, summer air nights when they began writing songs together.

But since the incarnation of Those Darlins, Jessi, Nikki and Kelly have instilled a comical spunk to their country tinged pop-punk that has taken them from southern porches to stages around the country. Playing SxSW last year and again this year, they have exponentially grown in popularity due to their rowdy and vivacious live performances.

Though these girls have a cute and sultry sheen, they also real grit to them, approaching their otherwise straightforward pop compositions with tenacity. Growing up listening to Appalachia and rough rock, their sound comes across as seemingly homey with a tinge of beachy '60s pop and grittier '70s rock setting the tone for this sense of musical nostalgia. But what makes their work far more impressive are how the moments of experimentation, though subtle, make their catchy tunes that much more intriguing.

Overall, Those Darlins are clearly about having fun as well as toughing out life on the road, and four years since their start, they're letting sophomore album "Screws Get Loose" carry out more of that aim. With drummer Linwood Regensburgs establishing a stronger presence, this is an album that really digs into their southern roots as well.